Science Rubrics

Grades: K-4

The ADVANCED Learner

The PROFICIENT Learner

The CAPABLE Learner

The NOVICE Learner

Demonstrates a broad and thorough understanding of appropriate scientific facts, principles, and concepts presented.

Utilizes the knowledge and resources available to describe a variety of potential solutions to problems and makes reasonable predictions as to the results.

Uses relatively complex scientific vocabulary to explain the method used and/or results obtained.

Applies science to learning in other areas and events in the everyday world.

Demonstrates a basic understanding of a majority of the scientific facts, principles and concepts presented.

Uses the available information and resources to identify a potential experimental strategy and to make reasonable predictions.

Uses appropriate scientific vocabulary to describe the method used and/or results obtained.

Relates science to other academic areas and events in their everyday world.

Demonstrates a basic knowledge of facts and concepts

Uses some of the available information and/or resources to identify experimental strategies or make predictions.

Uses some scientific vocabulary appropriately.

Identifies some of the ways in which science is applicable to everyday situations or other academic disciplines.

Demonstrates a limited knowledge of facts and concepts presented.

Replicates experiments and reports results in concrete terms.

Uses scientific vocabulary with a moderate level of accuracy.

Identifies ways in which science is applicable to everyday situations or other academic disciplines when prompted.

Grades: 5-8

The ADVANCED Learner

The PROFICIENT Learner

The CAPABLE Learner

The NOVICE Learner

Demonstrates a thorough understanding of scientific facts, principles, and concepts of the three basic areas of science (life science, earth & space sciences, and physical sciences) as well as the inter-relationship of these areas.

Identifies a variety of approaches that can be utilized to solve a problem, even those that involve crossing science areas.

Uses logical an deductive reasoning to determine which approaches will most likely be successful.

Conducts investigation(s) in a scientific manner, gathers appropriate data, and draws logical conclusions.

Uses appropriate scientific vocabulary to communicate the results observed, the data gathered, the conclusion drawn.

Investigates real-life events/situations and relates them to scientific concepts.

Demonstrates a basic understanding of the facts, concepts, and scientific principles presented in each of the three basic areas, and sees the relationships among them.

Utilizes the knowledge and resources available to identify a potential strategy to achieve a solution to a problem.

Follows a set of directions for performing an experiment, records observations and data as directed, and draws reasonable conclusions.

Communicates the methods used and the results obtained using the appropriate scientific vocabulary.

Applies science concepts to learning in other academic areas and everyday events.

Demonstrates a basic knowledge of some of the facts and concepts presented and sometimes sees the relationship among the different science areas.

Applies knowledge and facts to solve simple, basic, routine problems.

Usually follows a set of directions for performing an experiment, records some of the observations and data as required, and draws conclusions with a moderate level of accuracy.

Utilized basic scientific vocabulary when drawing conclusions or reporting on the method used and results obtained.

Relates some science concepts to learning in other academic areas and everyday events.

Demonstrates a basic knowledge of some of the facts and concepts presented.

Replicates simple, basic experiments or routines.

Follows a set of directions for performing an experiment, records some of the observations and data as required, and draws conclusions with a minimal level of accuracy.

Utilizes some scientific vocabulary when drawing conclusions or reporting on the method used and results obtained.

Relates some science concepts to learning in other academic areas and everyday events when prompted.

Grades: 9-12

The ADVANCED Learner

The PROFICIENT Learner

The CAPABLE Learner

The NOVICE Learner

Demonstrates a thorough understanding of scientific facts, principles, and concepts of the three basic areas of science (biology, chemistry, and physics) as well as interactions and overlap in these areas.

	Identifies multiple approaches that can be used to solve a problem, even those that involve crossing science disciplines and, through logical and deductive reasoning, determines which approaches will most likely be successful.
	Conducts investigation(s) in a scientific manner in order to observe changes that occur, gathers appropriate data and draws logical solutions for problems in a specific or combination of science disciplines.

Communicates the results observed, the data gathered, and the conclusion drawn using sound reasoning and the appropriate scientific vocabulary.

Discusses and explains how results are or could be affected by varying some of the parameters of the investigation.

Demonstrates the application of knowledge from more than one science area in interpreting scientific reports and articles.

Investigates happenings in the world and relates them to scientific areas if applicable.

Demonstrates a basic understanding of the facts, concepts, and scientific principles in each of the three basic areas and identifies relationships among them.

Uses the knowledge and resources available to identify a potential strategy to achieve a solution to a problem involving more than one science discipline.

Develops and implements a process to conduct an investigation.

Describes the method used and the results obtained with appropriate scientific vocabulary.

Explains how the results are or could be affected by varying some of the parameters of the investigation.

Reads and discusses articles describing a scientific happening.

Applies science concepts and principles to happenings in other academic areas and events in the everyday world.

Demonstrates a basic understanding of the facts and concepts presented and can sometimes identify relationships among the three areas of science.

Usually follows a set of directions for performing an experiment, records some of the observations and data as required, and arrives at a reasonable answer.

Communicates the method used and the results obtained using only basic scientific vocabulary.

Reads and discusses some articles describing a scientific happening.

Relates some of the science concepts presented in the everyday world to other academic areas.

Demonstrates a basic understanding of the facts, concepts, and principles presented.

Replicates simple experiments and lab routines.

Makes observations, records data, and draws conclusions with a minimal level of accuracy.

Communicates the method used and results obtained using non-scientific language.

With guidance, relates some science concepts presented in the everyday world to other academic areas.